The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), concluded a three-day PVS–PPP Targeted Support Workshop on "FMD-Free Zone Development in India" held from 15–17 September 2026 at the National Agricultural Science Complex in New Delhi. The workshop brought together representatives from DAHD, 12 State Animal Husbandry Departments, WOAH experts, CDDL/RDDLs, NDDB, ICAR Research Institutions, industry representatives, and livestock value-chain stakeholders to strengthen pathways toward establishing FMD-free zones and compartments in India.
Secretary Naresh Pal Gangwar highlighted India's substantial progress in FMD control under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, with the objective of achieving FMD freedom by 2030. Significant achievements include administration of 147.16 crore FMD vaccine doses benefiting approximately 8.04 crore farmers, decline in FMD outbreaks from 132 in 2019 to 40 in 2025 and further to 20 by August 2026, and reduction in NSP antibody positivity to 8.1% in 2025. The department has developed guidelines for creating FMD-free compartments and established Minimum Standards of Veterinary Infrastructure in India in 2025, with states receiving support under the Support to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) framework to address infrastructure gaps.
The workshop focused on refining state action plans through technical analysis, peer learning, and public-private partnership design aligned with WOAH standards. WOAH experts provided overviews of the PVS Pathway, FMD-free zone recognition requirements, surveillance and post-vaccination monitoring, and international experiences from Brazil. Practical group exercises involved public and private stakeholders from nine priority states, addressing bottlenecks in vaccination systems, surveillance and diagnostic partnerships, animal identification and traceability, producer organizations, value-chain integration, and investment models.
The final day featured state presentations of action plans with technical feedback from WOAH experts, covering interventions related to surveillance, vaccination, laboratory preparedness, traceability, biosecurity, movement control, veterinary infrastructure, and PPP engagement. The workshop emphasized that PPP engagement should extend beyond financial participation to encompass the entire animal-health value chain, including vaccine supply and delivery, diagnostics, traceability, producer organizations, dairy and livestock value chains, veterinary service delivery, and risk communication.
The initiative represents a critical step toward India's national objective of FMD-free status by 2030, with strengthened state action plans and public-private partnerships expected to provide a structured pathway for progressive development, maintenance, and eventual WOAH recognition of FMD-free zones and compartments.